JP2609770B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plurality of transport bodies for transporting a product toward a product take-out position, which are connected at predetermined intervals via an endless rotating body, and wherein the plurality of transport bodies are connected to a product storage unit. And driven in one direction along a series of orbital paths passing through a standby position for waiting to convey the goods paid out from and a discharge position for stopping the conveyed goods to be discharged to the product take-out position, After one of the transport bodies has passed the discharge position, a stop means is provided for stopping the transport body following the transport body at the standby position, and one of the transport bodies moves from the standby position to the discharge position. A vending machine having a different transfer travel distance and a standby travel distance from when one of the transporters arrives at the discharge position to when a transporter following the transporter moves to the standby position. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine, a plurality of carriers are driven and moved in one direction at regular intervals along a series of circulating paths without changing the moving direction of the carriers.
The product can be efficiently transported to the product removal position, and after one of the transporters has passed the discharge position, the transporter following the transporter is stopped at the standby position, so that a small number of transporters can efficiently perform the transport. Although there is an advantage that it can be transported, the transport movement distance where one of the transporters moves from the standby position to the discharge position, and the transporter following the transporter after one of the transporters arrives at the discharge position is in the standby position. Conventionally, when controlling the driving movement of the transporting body, a plurality of detected parts are provided on the endless rotating body side in a state corresponding to each of the transporting bodies, since the standby movement distance before moving is different. Discharge position detecting means for detecting a detected portion corresponding to the transported body when one arrives at the discharge position, and standby position detecting means for detecting a detected portion corresponding to the transported body when one of the transporters arrives at the standby position With The detecting means is provided on the fixed side, and when it is detected that one of the carriers has arrived at the discharge position, the drive movement is stopped to discharge the product, and then one of the carriers has arrived at the standby position. When this is detected, the driving movement is stopped and the vehicle is made to stand by at that position until the commodity is paid out.

[0003]

Since it is necessary to provide two detection means, that is, a discharge position detection means and a standby position detection means, not only the cost of assembling the detection means increases, but also
There is a disadvantage that an assembling space for two detecting means must be secured. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by devising a stop position detecting means of a transport body, a product can be efficiently transported toward a product removal position, and efficiently with a small number of transport bodies. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine which can reduce the mounting cost and the required mounting space of the detecting means while being a vending machine which can be transported.

[0004]

The features of the present invention for achieving the above object are as follows. A plurality of transporters that transport the product toward the product removal position are connected at predetermined intervals via an endless rotating body,
The plurality of carriers are arranged along a series of orbital paths via a standby position where the plurality of carriers are on standby to convey the products dispensed from the merchandise storage unit and a discharge position where the plurality of carriers stop to discharge the conveyed products to the product removal position. B. in one direction. After one of the carriers has passed the discharge position,
B. stopping means for stopping the transporting body following the transporting body at the standby position; A transport movement distance in which one of the transport bodies moves from the standby position to the discharge position, and a transport body following the transport body after the one of the transport bodies arrives at the discharge position moves to the standby position. V. A vending machine having a different waiting movement distance until the vending machine is operated. B. the stopping means is provided with one detecting means for sequentially detecting a plurality of detected parts provided at predetermined intervals on the endless rotating body side at an intermediate position of the circuit path; The vending machine wherein the predetermined arrangement interval is set to an interval in which an interval portion separating the transport movement distance and an interval portion separating the standby movement distance are alternately arranged. With this configuration, the following operation and effect can be obtained.

[0005]

[Function] a. With the configuration A, the product can be efficiently transported to the product removal position without changing the moving direction of the transport body back and forth, and with the configuration B, the product can be transported efficiently with a small number of transport bodies. Yes, b. With the configuration of C, D, and E, instead of providing two detecting means corresponding to each of the discharge position and the standby position, one detecting means is provided at a specific position, and the detecting means is provided with the detecting means. By stopping the driving movement of the transport body each time the detection unit is detected, each transport body can be sequentially stopped at the standby position and the discharge position.

[0006]

According to the above-described operation a, the vending machine can efficiently convey the goods toward the product take-out position and can efficiently convey the goods with a small number of conveyance bodies. Since each carrier can be sequentially stopped at the standby position and the discharge position only by providing the detection means, the cost for assembling the detection means and the required installation space can be reduced.

[0007]

FIG. 11 shows a vending machine in which a door B is pivotally supported so as to be able to swing open and close on a main body A in which three product storage units 1 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. Each of the merchandise storage units 1 includes a plurality of serpentine-type merchandise bins 1a arranged in the front-rear direction and rotation of canned or bottled beverages discharged from one of the merchandise storage units 1 based on a sales command. A chute 1c is provided to guide the commodity C having a body shape down and down toward the commodity payout port 1b. The commodity payout ports 1b are separately provided for each commodity storage unit 1, and are arranged at different positions along the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 7, a receiving surface 2 formed on the door body B in a series along the direction in which the commodity payout ports 1b are disposed and receiving the commodity C paid out from each of the commodity payout ports 1b; Regardless of the product C discharged from the opening 1b, the product C received by the receiving surface 2 is scooped up by the transport body 3 which is waiting at the standby position H on the upper side in the transport direction from each of the product discharge ports 1b. And a product transport device D that transports the product toward the product take-out box 4 as a product take-out position higher than the product pay-out port 1b. The product transport device D is configured to drive and move the transport body 3 in the lateral direction along the receiving surface 2 and to transport the product C received by the receiving surface 2 while extruding the product C by the transport body 3; A vertical transport path F that drives the transport body 3 in the upward direction and lifts and transports the product C transported along the horizontal transport path E on the downwardly curved transport surface 3a of the transport body 3 is continuous. An L-shaped transport path is provided. The L-shaped transport path includes upper and lower sprockets G ₁ ,
The endless chain 5 as endless rotary body over and G ₂ and the five guide sprockets G ₃ together wound around in an L-shape,
The two transporters 3 are connected to the endless chain 5 at substantially equal intervals via a transporter mounting member 6. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, each of the transport bodies 3 is formed in a gutter shape having a downwardly curved transport surface 3a, and is connected to the transport body mounting member 6 so as to be vertically swingable. In addition, the lower sprocket G is guided by a guide rail 7 provided along a winding path of the endless chain 5 with rollers 6a pivotally supported on both right and left sides of the carrier mounting member 6.
_{The two} conveyors 3 are configured to be driven and moved in one direction along a series of orbital paths by the drive of a drive motor M linked to the chain ₂ . A swing arm 3c that can swing vertically and a rolling wheel 3b that rolls on the receiving surface 2 on the bottom surface of the carrier 3.
The swing arm 3c is spring-biased to the side close to the carrier 3 and swings up and down in a long hole 6c which is swingable up and down and connected to the carrier attachment member 6. Arm 3c
The swing arm 3
The swing range of c is regulated.

The receiving surface 2 is formed in a gutter shape which is wider than the outer diameter of the product C and is bent so as to become lower toward the center in the width direction, and the product C delivered from the product delivery port 1b has a longitudinal direction. Is configured to be received at the center in the width direction with the direction toward the transport direction, and a slit-shaped gap 10 is formed along the center in the width direction.
It is configured to pull the transport body 3 from 0 and drive and move it along the horizontal transport path E. Each of the transport bodies 3 is in a standby position H at which a standby is performed to transport the product C paid out from any one of the merchandise outlets 1b to the receiving surface 2 on the lateral conveyance path on the upper side of the merchandise outlet 1b in the conveying direction. And the goods C lifted and conveyed are sequentially moved in one direction along the L-shaped conveyance path while passing sequentially through a discharge position J at which the goods C are stopped to slide down to the chute 4a of the goods take-out box 4, and the conveyance body 3 is moved. the conveying movement distance L ₁ that moves from the standby position H to the discharge position J, wait movement distance L ₂ until the carrier 3 has the other carrier 3 from arriving at the discharging position J to move to the standby position H Longer. As shown in FIG. 8, the transport body 3 has a rolling surface 3 b that is pivotally supported by the transport body 3.
By being supported on the upper side, the movement posture along the horizontal conveyance path E is guided to the pushing posture in which the conveyance surface 3a is inclined backward with respect to the conveyance direction, and the movement posture along the vertical conveyance path F is oscillated. A cam surface 1 provided with a guide roller 3d axially supported on the other end of the moving arm 3c along the vertical transport path F.
By bringing the product C into contact with the product 1, the product C is guided to a lifting position in which the product C can be lifted and transported on the transport surface 3a. Then, the product C, which moves while being pushed along the horizontal transport path E, is scooped up on the transport surface 3e and placed on the transport surface 3e as the transport body 3 is changed from the pushing posture to the lifting posture. It is configured to be.

A stopping means is provided beside the vertical transport path F to stop the transport body 3 following the transport body at the standby position H after one of the transport bodies 3 has passed the discharge position J. The stop means is a proximity switch as a single detection means for outputting a signal to a control device for controlling the drive of the goods transport device D when kicked by dogs 9a and 9b as detection parts connected to the endless chain 5 side. 8 is constructed by providing the dog 9a, 9b are endless in a predetermined arrangement interval of the interval portion separating the wait movement distance L ₂ equivalent to the interval portion separating the conveying movement distance L ₁ equivalent are arranged alternately A sensor 12 that is connected to the chain 5 and that detects that the product C has been discharged into the product take-out box 4 is provided on the bottom surface of the product take-out box 4.

Next, the drive control of the goods transport device D is shown in FIG.
Based on the flowchart and the operation explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 2 to 6
Will be explained. As shown in FIG. 2, one of the transport bodies 3 is on standby
In the state where the product C is waiting at the position H, the product C
When the goods are paid out, the drive motor M is driven and the goods are transported.
The device D is started (step S₁), Stop at the standby position H
The transporting body 3 transports the product C toward the product outlet 4
Start moving as much as possible. As shown in FIG.
9a (hereinafter, the first dog) kicks the proximity switch 8
And the control device determine that the carrier 3 has arrived at the discharge position J.
(Step S_Two), The drive of the drive motor M is stopped
The goods transport device D stops (step S _Three). And
When the sensor 12 detects that the product C has been discharged (the
Tep S_Four) The goods transport device D is started again (step S
_Five), As shown in FIG. 4, a second dog 9b (hereinafter referred to as a second dog).
G) kicks the proximity switch 8 and the control unit
Is determined to have arrived at the standby position H.
(Step S₆), The goods transport device D is stopped (step
S₇), The other carrier 3 waits at the standby position H.
It is configured.

At the start of sales control, such as when a power supply is connected to a vending machine, whether the signal first input from the proximity switch 8 to the control device is from the first dog 9a or the second dog 9b. When the sales control is started in a state where one of the carriers 3 is stopped at the discharge position J as shown in FIG. 5, the signal by the second dog 9b is erroneously recognized as the signal by the first dog 9a. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the delivered product C is not transported, and the transporter 3 is not transported.
May stop in the standby position H, the product transport operation may end, and a normal selling operation may not be performed. Therefore, when it is not detected that the product C has been discharged to the product unloading box 4 even after the lapse of the predetermined time T, the transport body 3 is stopped at the standby position H without the delivered product C being transported. in determining that commodity transfer operation is completed (step S _8), the counter as 1 (step S ₉₎ returns to the step S _1, is started commodity transfer operation again, configured as a normal sales operation is carried out It is. When the counter is judged to be 2 or more (step S _10), error processing is performed (step S _11). In the return path in which the transporting body 3 returns from the discharge position J to the standby position H, a guide mechanism for tilting the transporting body 3 toward the endless chain 5 is provided, and the transporting body 3 is guided so as to return in a compact posture. You.

[Another embodiment] a. The series of circuit paths is not limited to the L-shaped circuit path, and may be a circuit path that circulates along the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. I. The detecting means may be a detecting means such as a photo sensor for detecting the detected portion in a non-contact manner. C. The mounting position of the detecting means is not particularly limited as long as the detected portion provided on the endless rotating body side can be detected. D. The method of transporting the product is not particularly limited, and may be a system in which the product delivered from the product storage unit is directly received and transported by a bucket-shaped transport body.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing drive control of a product transport device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation of the product transport device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the product transport device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the product transport device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of the product transport device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the product transport device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a product transport device.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of the product transport device.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is a view taken on line XX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway front view of a vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 product reservoir 3 carrier 4 article retrieving position 5 the endless rotary bodies 8 detecting means 9a detected portion 9b the detected part C product H standby position J the discharge position L ₁ conveying movement distance L ₂ stand moving distance

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of transport bodies (3) for transporting a product (C) toward a product removal position (4) are endless rotating bodies (5).
A plurality of transporters (3) are connected at a predetermined interval via a standby position (H) in which the plurality of transporters (3) are on standby to transport the product (C) delivered from the product storage unit (1). (C) is driven in one direction along a series of orbits passing through a discharge position (J) that stops to discharge the product to the product take-out position (4). After one has passed the discharge position (J), a stop means is provided for stopping the transporter (3) following the transporter (3) at the standby position (H), and one of the transporters (3) is provided. One transporting distance (L ₁ ) from the standby position (H) to the discharging position (J), and the transporting member after one of the transporting members (3) arrives at the discharging position (J). Waiting until the transport body (3) following (3) moves to the standby position (H) A vending machine having a different moving distance (L ₂ ), wherein the stop means is provided at a certain position on the side of the endless rotating body (5) at predetermined intervals in the middle of the orbiting path. (9a) and (9b) are sequentially detected by one detecting means (8), and the predetermined arrangement interval is separated by an interval corresponding to the transport movement distance (L ₁ ) and the standby movement distance ( L ₂ ) A vending machine set at an interval in which intervals corresponding to a corresponding portion are alternately arranged.